Refinishing hardwood floors is a time-consuming project that necessitates making numerous decisions and taking various steps.
One important decision when purchasing hardwood is whether or not to sand it. Many homeowners opt to refinish their floor without resorting to sanding. Unfortunately, prefinished hardwoods don’t allow this as they feature an attractive wood veneer over plywood that prevents sanding.
Preparation
If your hardwood floors are in great shape but the finish has become worn, scratched, or dull, refinishing them without sanding is a quick and cost-effective way to give them new life. It is also suitable for prefinished or laminated wood that cannot be sanded, making this method suitable for prefinished and laminated surfaces.
Begin by cleaning your floors using a pH-neutral cleaner to remove any residue that might prevent new finishes from adhering properly. Allow enough time for drying before continuing.
Apply 180-grit sandpaper by hand to the edges and any areas the buffer cannot reach, including any corners that might need extra polishing. Be careful not to oversand, otherwise this could damage the wood itself!
Before buffing begins, it is essential that heating ducts and windows be sealed tightly to limit dust accumulation. Allow your floors to dry for 48 hours post-buffing in order to ensure a strong enough finish that can withstand regular foot traffic and furniture moving.
Wood Stain or Paint
Once your floor has been refinished, depending on its color and design needs, you may opt to stain it. In this instance, professional advice should be sought in order to find a stain color and sheen that suits it.
If you choose a wood stain, follow the directions on its label to apply it evenly without leaving puddles or lines behind. Allow for at least 24 hours of drying time depending on which product was used and room conditions before walking on or cleaning off any residue from it – depending on which products and what conditions exist in each room, drying time could vary significantly from product to product and could last as much as several days!
Paints can also be an effective option for refinishing hardwood floors, covering deeper scratches that sanding cannot fill in. However, painting may require more frequent touch ups due to not protecting your floor as effectively as an even coat of stain does.
Buffing
Before applying any new finish to wood surfaces, you must ensure they are clean. Wax, oil and residue from cleaning products can impede how well a fresh coating of finish adheres to the floor. Tape off a small area and use either hardwood flooring cleaner or an at-home solution of 10 parts water to 1 part white vinegar spray to treat it; wipe with a clean white rag to test its effect – if the rag wipes cleanly then your floors are wax and oil free and ready for buffing and recoating!
If your floor has deep scratches and gouges that gouge the wood surface, you will likely require sanding before applying a fresh coat of varnish. However, for surface-level damage where the wood underneath remains undamaged and sounds, an effective alternative to this approach may be screening and recoating – particularly useful with traditional hardwoods instead of laminated or prefinished floors with thin wood veneer over plywood that cannot be sanded without damaging their finish.
Sealing
Although complete sanding may be necessary to revitalize older wood floors, it’s not the only method available. Sometimes it just needs a fresh coat of finish applied instead – known as re-coating.
Begin by cleaning your hardwood floors using a specially formulated floor cleaner designed for wood flooring, and paying special attention to spots with deep scratches or dents that require repair. Note these areas so you can address them later.
If there are nails protrusions from the wood surface, hammer them down or use putty to cover them before starting to refinish it. Otherwise they could catch on your sanding screen and damage your buffer, so they need to be addressed prior to beginning any refinishing projects.
Refinishing wood floors using recoat products is an easy and straightforward process, just follow the directions provided on your chosen product and allow enough drying time before walking on it or replacing furniture.